Bio -- LaRue
Brother/sister duo LaRue is walking a path God calls few so young to take. Phillip LaRue, 17, and Natalie LaRue, 15, display a wisdom and maturity that undeniably reflects the sacrificial investment of other family members who are as...
Updated Aug 09, 2001
Brother/sister duo LaRue is walking a path God calls few so young to take. Phillip LaRue, 17, and Natalie LaRue, 15, display a wisdom and maturity that undeniably reflects the sacrificial investment of other family members who are as much a part of this talented group as the two tender singer/songwriters themselves. The pair also shines with a passionate love for their Savior, whom they are contagiously committed to sharing with their peers.
"Our whole family are a really big support team for us," says Phillip, who handles guitar for the duo. "They're our cheerleaders. We're surrounded by friends at church and family members who are constantly helping us remember who we are, and helping us when we're struggling."
The group makes quite an impression everywhere they go as they travel with father Paul, mother Carolynne, and twin sisters Rachelle and Brianna in tow. The entire family was there when the California-based group first caught the attention of Reunion Records over two years ago, and it's the family name that brands the group.
"'LaRue' means 'the road,'" says Natalie, "and we thought, Wow, that's perfect, because we walk the road that God chooses for us, on top of it being our last name."
That road has lead them into the studio during the last year, recording first a two-song EP maxi-single titled Waiting Room, soon to be followed by their full-length self-titled national debut this August. Working with producers Rick Elias, Mike Lenny and Ken Mary, LaRue is creating a collection of songs that bely their few years in lyrical depth, and treat listeners to a vocal banquet, at once breathy soft, then almost growling with rich, honey-tinged strength.
The group's sound lays warm, lilting harmonies atop fresh, energetic guitars, for a result that's closest to acoustic-based pop, but hints of modern rock on the edges. Both the sound and the songs are straight from the heart of teenagers to teenagers, with Phillip and Natalie co-writing every song on the album themselves, and trading lead vocals with no sign of sibling rivalry. "On all of our original ones [meaning written song copies], I'm usually the one writing," Natalie says. "And I'm a doodler, so there are usually doodles all over the paper!"
The first radio single to be written by the two, the title song of the Waiting Room EP, speaks of the hope of Christ that this life is not all we have to look forward to. In true family style, the two are finishing each other's thoughts as they explain its meaning: "It's a song about how sometimes, when things get just crazy, we can lose perspective," Philip says, "but," cuts in Natalie," it's a very encouraging song because you know when you get just frustrated with life, you can know that this is just the blink of an eye compared to the eternity that we're going to have with God."
Another outstanding track, which will appear on the full length album, is "Someday," "written to my future husband to be, and Phil's wife to be," says Natalie, who dubs the song "sentimental." Rather than being wistful, though, the song resonates with a young woman's faith that God will provide her with a match truly given by Heaven. "I don't know if you're near or far away, but I know I'm thinking of you today, I don't now if I even know your name, but I'm praying for you just the same," says the chorus. Perhaps more than any other song on the album, Someday" showcases Natalie's sultry, soaring vocal style, reminiscent of a sunnier Sarah McLaughlin, a richer Jaci Velasquez or a purer, lessaffected Brittany Spears.
Like every adolescent, Philip and Natalie are learning about who they are, and as Christians, that moves beyond their individual identities to the realm of who they are in Christ. The song "Reason" explores how two young people must find their faith in the face of a world that often seems to contradict that very faith. "I am me, but who am I, will I everfind the reason for life?" the song asks, but then finds resolution in the chorus, "But I see you there, Your arms around me, and I have no fear, You're all around me. "
"Lord give me the strenth to find the faith in this world, help them to see the light in me even though I'm so afraid of it all," bridges the song. This is the testimony of LaRue. "If three years from now," Natalie says, "I could look back and say, whatever we did, where ever we go, whatever we do, we are trying to share God's love and Word with as many people as possible, whether through music, or talking with people, or going on mission trips, whatever -- we both had a desire to feed our generation, and anybody else who wants to listen."
"Our whole family are a really big support team for us," says Phillip, who handles guitar for the duo. "They're our cheerleaders. We're surrounded by friends at church and family members who are constantly helping us remember who we are, and helping us when we're struggling."
The group makes quite an impression everywhere they go as they travel with father Paul, mother Carolynne, and twin sisters Rachelle and Brianna in tow. The entire family was there when the California-based group first caught the attention of Reunion Records over two years ago, and it's the family name that brands the group.
"'LaRue' means 'the road,'" says Natalie, "and we thought, Wow, that's perfect, because we walk the road that God chooses for us, on top of it being our last name."
That road has lead them into the studio during the last year, recording first a two-song EP maxi-single titled Waiting Room, soon to be followed by their full-length self-titled national debut this August. Working with producers Rick Elias, Mike Lenny and Ken Mary, LaRue is creating a collection of songs that bely their few years in lyrical depth, and treat listeners to a vocal banquet, at once breathy soft, then almost growling with rich, honey-tinged strength.
The group's sound lays warm, lilting harmonies atop fresh, energetic guitars, for a result that's closest to acoustic-based pop, but hints of modern rock on the edges. Both the sound and the songs are straight from the heart of teenagers to teenagers, with Phillip and Natalie co-writing every song on the album themselves, and trading lead vocals with no sign of sibling rivalry. "On all of our original ones [meaning written song copies], I'm usually the one writing," Natalie says. "And I'm a doodler, so there are usually doodles all over the paper!"
The first radio single to be written by the two, the title song of the Waiting Room EP, speaks of the hope of Christ that this life is not all we have to look forward to. In true family style, the two are finishing each other's thoughts as they explain its meaning: "It's a song about how sometimes, when things get just crazy, we can lose perspective," Philip says, "but," cuts in Natalie," it's a very encouraging song because you know when you get just frustrated with life, you can know that this is just the blink of an eye compared to the eternity that we're going to have with God."
Another outstanding track, which will appear on the full length album, is "Someday," "written to my future husband to be, and Phil's wife to be," says Natalie, who dubs the song "sentimental." Rather than being wistful, though, the song resonates with a young woman's faith that God will provide her with a match truly given by Heaven. "I don't know if you're near or far away, but I know I'm thinking of you today, I don't now if I even know your name, but I'm praying for you just the same," says the chorus. Perhaps more than any other song on the album, Someday" showcases Natalie's sultry, soaring vocal style, reminiscent of a sunnier Sarah McLaughlin, a richer Jaci Velasquez or a purer, lessaffected Brittany Spears.
Like every adolescent, Philip and Natalie are learning about who they are, and as Christians, that moves beyond their individual identities to the realm of who they are in Christ. The song "Reason" explores how two young people must find their faith in the face of a world that often seems to contradict that very faith. "I am me, but who am I, will I everfind the reason for life?" the song asks, but then finds resolution in the chorus, "But I see you there, Your arms around me, and I have no fear, You're all around me. "
"Lord give me the strenth to find the faith in this world, help them to see the light in me even though I'm so afraid of it all," bridges the song. This is the testimony of LaRue. "If three years from now," Natalie says, "I could look back and say, whatever we did, where ever we go, whatever we do, we are trying to share God's love and Word with as many people as possible, whether through music, or talking with people, or going on mission trips, whatever -- we both had a desire to feed our generation, and anybody else who wants to listen."
Originally published August 09, 2001.
